Section 215
Fansided

Philadelphia Sports: Section 215 top 25 Philadelphia athletes revealed

By Chuck Booth

Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) celebrates with center Joel Embiid (21) after his game winning shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) celebrates with center Joel Embiid (21) after his game winning shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tackle Lane Johnson (65) in a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Number six: Lane Johnson – Tackle, Philadelphia Eagles

If anyone was doubting Lane Johnson’s importance to the Eagles, just go ahead and watch the games they had him last year, and compare them to the games without him. The Eagles went 5-1 with Johnson in the lineup, while going a horrid 2-8 without him. After picking up his initial 4-game suspension in 2014, Johnson closed out the remaining 12 games in 2014 with only one allowed sack good enough to put him among the best RT’s in the NFL. He knew another suspension would be up to 10 games and unfortunately found himself in that position last season after an alleged misunderstanding regarding a banned substance in a supplement he had taken.

Thankfully, the suspension has come and gone and the Eagles and the rest of Philadelphia will have to pray Johnson double and triple checks what’s entering his body. Johnson comes in as our 6th ranked Philly athlete, and arguably the most important to the success of the Eagles offense. He will be 27 in May and will be likely hitting the prime of his career over the next 2-3 seasons. With Jason Peters time in Philly looking to be on its latter stage, Doug Pederson will be reliant on Johnson to eventually switch to Left Tackle to protect Carson Wentz’s blind side for years to come.

When all is said and done, even after the two suspensions and some strong animosity from some Eagle fans, this team is miles better with Lane on the field. A number four overall draft selection in 2013 was used on him for a reason, and there will be plenty of people willing to put the past behind if Johnson can play all 16 games effectively next season as he did in 2015.